Revenue Generating and Sharing
Topic
Champion:
Jim Campbell
Those who will
assist:
Richard, Ron, Rick, Dawn, Sandra Kriese
Participants: about 15-20
people
Summary: A thorough
discussion by many participants to understand the island’s financial needs and
the current sources of funds. Examination of future need and possible future
sources of revenue to disperse to those needs. Of primary concern is the high
(and escalating) cost of funding the local health services.
Jim
sees these revenue sources:
- Donations
– people get a tax break. Rec Centre is structured so it can get a tax
break. Community Club does not get a tax break.
- Earning –
by events, the biggest of which is the Lamb BBQ. Great because the money
is primarily from off island.
- Agencies
from Government
- Lottery
funds – on and off reliability
- Property
taxation – also includes grants from regional districts
4. Money
from Foundations – project specific
Jim
wants to examine these to see if burden is distributed equitably and if there
is enough of it. Look at sources and look at needs.
Property
taxes for schooling, fire protection, Parks and Rec, and roads and maintenance
(at government discretion). SIPOA is working hard to make government
accountable…with so much land with Parks, loss of revenue in taxes amounts to
Parks is paying PILT (Points in Lieu of Taxes)…and $25,000.
Awareness
that property owners and ratepayers associations represent a certain sector of
the island. Do not represent the community as a whole.
Islands
Trust…not equitably distributed. Saturna’s island trust does not get the share
of this related to the amount taken.
How
do we get more revenue in the easiest and most painless way?
Do
we have the expertise on this to make a proposal to the government?
Do
we get a lawyer?
We
can create an Improvement District…a current example of such a society is
already in place with the Fire Protection Society.
Ron
– we are focusing on property taxes…are there other ways?
1.
In Nantucket…when a property is sold some of the $ goes into
a trust fund for the community.
2.
Lorne Underwood has discussed in previous groups about
alternatives used by his community.
a.
Cultural cost charge
b.
Development cost charge
c.
Community cost charge
3.
Other ways to bring in offshore money as per the Lamb BBQ?
4.
Grants? This year is BC birthday 150 years. There are grants
offered to communities who feature this…eg. At the BBQ. Getting close to the
closing date.
But…does not
give continuous revenue.
5.
One side of the gaming commission that offers ½ for capital
and ½ for operating expenses…very reliable for the Lion’s
6.
Shawn – possible to levy a tax on vacation homes?...they
affect the island but are not here. Would go into a fund…equivalent to the
community cost charge.
7.
Something like the “Phantom Ball” …..Money that goes to
something that never actually happens!! No one needs to volunteer and no money
is spent!!
Who
collects this?
Do
we need a trust or a by-law?
Which
level of government would do this?
Mayne
has an area development…Mayne Island Regional Development. Created before major
changes were made to this structure. It was allowed to continue. It collects
taxes for the island.
Jamie
– actual dollars needed are not that big. If you bring a good idea to the right
person, could get the money. All governments have slush funds for community
development. We are too small to fit in any program at the government level. We
need to develop our own program and present it…especially in March! Ongoing?
Continuous? With most of the money requested you could add 10-20% for
administration, and then start to build the funds from this. “I know the money
is there.”
However,
still a feeling that health and fire should be tax based…. that’s how it is in
other communities. $25,000, to run our clinics and ambulance.
We
are not allowed to tax just for Health. The island does not register with BC
Ambulance…it is all about call volume. There are 7,000 visitors for the park,
therefore a push to have BC Ambulance cover more financially. Partly because BC
Ambulance has had budget cuts.
Richard
– We have one organization that can raise the mill rate…the Fire Protection
Society. Why couldn’t we use the Fire Protection Society that could include the
$25,000…equivalent to Emergency Services as a whole? Is that possible?...rather
than create a new society?
The
Fire Protection Society would not govern, but would just get the money for
disbursement.
Dawn
– that would require another referendum and rewrite of the charter???
At
which point do we become our own regulatory body?...eg. Whistler became a
Resort Municipality…Bowen is now a Municipality. Downfalls with both
options…more government, creating another structure, etc.
Jim
— Islands Trust is very restricted. Preserves and protects the unique amenities
of the island for the people there and for BC. Acquires land but does not
manage land. They do not and cannot have any powers to make judgments outside
of this, especially with economic factors.
Property
Taxes – Rick – is the consensus of most to just not pay more taxes? Not true
for him. A small increase in taxes means a LOT of $ in total. He has never
lived in a place where emergency services do not come from taxes.
There
are about 500 properties…$50 per house per year equals the $25,000 that we
need!!! A good investment.
Priscilla
–What is the difference if Shawn and Corinne move off? If we can’t keep the
home-grown children here, what then? As a business owner, the time is now. I
can’t find a baker…no affordable housing. We want a vibrant community, yes?
This community is shifting. Could there
be some kind of mail-out request? Dawn said that they did a mailing to Everyone
and had a rather small response….for an essential service!
People
will respond to a tax increase if they know what it is for and if they know that
the people that are collecting it are accountable. The challenge is to find the
mechanism, agency or accountable body!! How do we bring back local power to
local people for local services?
Next Steps:
• Establish a
local improvement district to support our essential services…seems like the
best idea so far.
• Call a
meeting….keep it simple….include SIPOA, rep. from Fire Protection Society with
knowledge of the structure, rep from Rec Centre, Comm. Club and Health.
• Create a
model….not easy!
• Understand
the technicalities of the Fire Protection Society.
• Find a unique
solution to work with the CRD to supplement these services.
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